Australian Pick of the Week for January 1

Race 4 at Geelong (Australia A) on Wednesday night is a maiden at special weights for 3-year-olds going 6 1/2 furlongs around one left-hand turn with a short run down the backstretch and a long run turning for home. The track designation is Good-4 so it should be agreeable to all running styles.

#2 Confusion returns off a four-month layoff. After two barrier trials, he made his career debut on heavy ground going this distance and slogged his way to a good second in a six-runner maiden at 10-1. He came back here on soft ground and could not overcome post 11 in a 13-runner field going 7 furlongs. His speed ratings match up with these and multiple winners have come out of both of his races. His sire, So You Think, excelled on firm ground and his second dam was a stakes winner in New Zealand.

#9 Starsonic has run well in six career starts, but it's beginning to look like he doesn't want to win. He has superior speed ratings to the rest of the field, but his last four starts came on good ground and he still can't get his picture taken. Two starts back, he broke slowly then rushed into contention before weakening. He came back 17 days ago and chased the pace from post one while missing by just over a length. Son of Zoustar gets good ground again and post 3 should enable Ben Thompson to gain early position.

#5 Hughes the Boss has run well in all three career starts and took decent betting money each time. He stretches out another furlong and should be fitter in his second start off the layoff for Team Hawkes, who are winning at a 17% clip this year, and James Winks is their main rider here. The son of Street Boss adds blinkers for the first time, so we'll see if he can be more involved early.

Dick Powell's Pick

Confusion can reign over these at healthy odds.